Impressionism: Origins of the Movement

Impressionism was an art movement that emerged in the second half of the 19th century among a group of Paris-based artists. The duration of the impressionist movement itself was quite short, less than 20 years from 1872 to the mid-1880s. But it had a tremendous impact and influence on the painting styles that followed, such as neo-impressionism, post-impressionism, fauvism, and cubismand even the artistic styles and movements of today.

The name impressionism was coined from the title of a work by French painter Claude Monet, Impression, soleil levant (in English, Impression, Sunrise).

The term precisely captured what this group of artists sought to represent in their works: the viewers momentary impression of an image. It was not intended to be clear or precise, but more like a fleeting fragment of reality caught on canvas, sometimes in mid-motion, at other times awkwardly positionedjust as it would be in real life.

The Influence of Delacroix

As with all emerging art movements, impressionism owed its inspiration to earlier masters. One major influence was the work of French painter Eugne Delacroix. Delacroix was greatly admired and emulated by the early impressionistsspecifically for his use of expressive brushstrokes, his emphasis on movement rather than on clarity of form, and most of all his study of the optical effects of color.

In particular, Delacroixs painting, The Barque of Dante, contained a then revolutionary technique that would profoundly influence the coming impressionist movement. And it involved something as simple as droplets of water.

The painting is loosely based on a fictional scene from Dantes Inferno, showing Dante and the poet Virgil crossing hells River Styx, while tormented souls struggle to climb aboard their boat. It is the drops of water running down the bodies of these doomed souls (see enlarged detail below) that are painted in a manner almost never used in Delacroixs time.

Impression, Sunrise Claude Monet, 1872

Oil on canvas

The Barque of Dante Eugne Delacroix, 1822

Oil on canvas

When studied closely, it is seen that four different, unmixed pigmentsyellow, green, red, and whitecreate the image of each drop and its shadow. Viewed from a little distance, these colors blend to represent individual drops glistening with light. The distinct colors merge in the eye of the viewer to appear monochromatic (single-colored) or, in this case of

water droplets, colorless. In short, an impression is formed. Putting this and similar principles into wider practice, future painters would carry French art into one of its richest periods: impressionism.

Impressionism: A Break from Past Painting Traditions

There were several areas in which impressionist artists moved away from the established practices of art at that time. These involved their use of color, choice of subject matter and setting, and technique for capturing light and conveying movement.

Color and Light

The painting conventions and techniques of earlier art periods were very much concerned with line, form, and composition. In contrast, the impressionists painted with freely brushed colors that conveyed more of a visual effect than a detailed rendering of the subject. They used short broken strokes that were intentionally made visible to the viewer. They also often placed pure unmixed colors side by side, rather than blended smoothly or shaded. The result was a feeling of energy and intensity, as the colors appeared to shift and moveagain, just as they do in reality.

Everyday Subjects

Impressionists also began to break away from the creation of formally posed portraits and grandiose depictions of mythical, literary, historical, or religious subjects. They ventured into capturing scenes of life around them, household objects, landscapes and seascapes, houses, cafes, and buildings. They presented ordinary people seemingly caught off-guard doing everyday tasks, at work or at leisure, or doing nothing at all.

And they were not made to look beautiful or lifelike, as body parts could be distorted and facial features merely suggested by a few strokes of the brush.

Painting Outdoors

The location in which the impressionists painted was also different. Previously, still life, portraits, and landscapes were usually painted inside a studio. However, the impressionists found that they could best capture the ever-changing effects of light on color by painting outdoors in natural light. This gave their works a freshness and immediacy that was quite a change from the stiffer, heavier, more planned paintings of earlier masters.

Open Composition

Impressionist painting also moved away from the formal, structured approach to placing and positioning their subjects. They experimented with unusual visual angles, sizes of objects that appeared out of proportion, off-center placement, and empty spaces on the canvas.

The Influence of Photography

Photography was in its early stages at this time as well. As it gained popularity, photography inspired impressionists to capture fleeting moments of action, whether in landscapes or in the day-to-day lives of people. But whereas camera snapshots provided objective, true-to-life images, the

artists were able to offer a subjective view of their subjects, expressing their personal perceptions rather than creating exact representations. They also had the advantage of manipulating color, which photography at that time still lacked.

Impressionism: Works of Manet, Monet, and Renoir

By the 1870s, the stage was set for the emergence of the next major art movement in Europe, impressionism. It started with a group of French paintersthat included Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoirand eventually spread to other countries, such as Italy, Germany, and The Netherlands.

EDOUARD MANET

Edouard Manet (1832-1883) was one of the first 19th century artists to depict modern-life subjects. He was a key figure in the transition from realism to impressionism, with a number of his works considered as marking the birth of modern art.

CLAUDE MONET

Claude Monet (1840-1926) was one of the founders of the impressionist movement along with his friends Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Frdric Bazille. He was the most prominent of the group; and is considered the most influential figure in the movement. Monet is best known for his landscape paintings, particularly those depicting his beloved flower gardens and water lily ponds at his home in Giverny.

Argenteuil Edouard Manet, 1874

Oil on canvas

Rue Mosnier Decked With Flags Edouard Manet, 1878

Oil on canvas

Caf Concert Edouard Manet, 1878

Oil on canvas

The Bar at the Folies-Bergere Edouard Manet, 1882

Oil on canvas

AUGUSTE RENOIR

Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), along with Claude Monet, was one of the central figures of the impressionist movement. His early works were snapshots of real life, full of sparkling color and light. By the mid-1880s, however, Renoir broke away from the impressionist movement to apply a more disciplined, formal technique to portraits of actual people and figure paintings.

Post-Impressionism: Works of Cezanne and Van Gogh

After the brief yet highly influential period of impressionism, an outgrowth movement known as post-impressionism emerged. The European artists who were at the forefront of this movement continued using the basic qualities of the impressionists before themthe vivid colors, heavy brush strokes, and true-to-life subjects. However, they expanded and experimented with these in bold new ways, like using a geometric approach, fragmenting objects and distorting peoples faces and body parts, and applying colors that were not necessarily realistic or natural.

Two of the foremost post-impressionists were Paul Czanne and Vincent van Gogh.

La Promenade The Red Boats, Argenteuil Claude Monet, 1875 Claude Monet, 1875 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas

Bridge Over a Pond of Irises in Monets Garden Water Lilies Claude Monet, 1899 Claude Monet, 1900 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas

Mlle Irene Cahen dAnvers Luncheon of the Boating Party Auguste Renoir, 1880 Auguste Renoir, 1881 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas

Dancer A Girl with a Watering Can Auguste Renoir, 1874 Auguste Renoir, 1876 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas

PAUL CEZANNE

Paul Czanne (18391906) was a French artist and post-impressionist painter. His work exemplified the transition from late 19th-century impressionism to a new and radically different world of art in the 20th centurypaving the way for the next revolutionary art movement known as expressionism.

VINCENT VAN GOGH

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) was a post-impressionist painter from The Netherlands. His works were remarkable for their strong, heavy brush strokes, intense emotions, and colors that appeared to almost pulsate with energy. Van Goghs striking style was to have a far-reaching influence on 20th century art, with his works becoming among the most recognized in the world.

Hortense Fiquet in a Striped Skirt Still Life with Compotier Paul Cezanne, 1878 Paul Cezanne, 1879-1882 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas

Harlequin Boy in a Red Vest Paul Cezanne, 1888-1890 Paul Cezanne, 1890 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas

Sheaves of Wheat in a Field The Sower Vincent van Gogh, 1885 Vincent van Gogh, 1888 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas

Still Life: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers Bedroom at Arles Vincent van Gogh, 1888 Vincent van Gogh, 1888 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas

Starry Night Wheat Field with Cypresses Vincent van Gogh, 1889 Vincent van Gogh, 1889 Oil on canvas Oil on canvas